Baffle plate operating mechanism for muffler

ABSTRACT

A baffle plate operating mechanism for an exhaust which is connected an engine installed on a motor vehicle, e.g. motorcycles or automobiles, the baffle plate operating mechanism comprises a solid sleeve passing through and welded into the multiple layers of the muffler, a plurality of bushings mated in the solid sleeve and having a slit respectively, a shaft inserted into the sleeve, and a baffle plate mounted on the shaft and disposed inside the muffler. When the hot air exhausts from the engine, the solid sleeve isolate the thermal deformation between the multiple layers; and the bushing facing different directions can maintain the smooth rotation of the shaft completely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a baffle plate operating mechanism forregulating the air flow in the muffler communicates with the engine of amotor vehicle, e.g. motorcycles or automobiles. More particularly, theinvention has a solid sleeve to overcome the thermal deformation betweenmultiple layers of the muffler so as to enable a smooth rotation of thebaffle plate operating mechanism.

2. Description of Related Art

The muffler is a popular item for car or motorcycle modifyingenthusiastic. The torque of the engine as well as the exhaust sound canbe regulated depending on the air flow rate of the muffler. As shown inFIG. 1, this is a cross-section view of a conventional baffle plateoperating mechanism 100 for an muffler 10 comprises a shaft 110 insertedinto the muffler 10 through the multiple layers 11 of the muffler 10,and a baffle plate 120 mounted on the shaft 110. A handle 111 is bent atone end extending out of the muffler 10. In this case, the shaft 110 canbe rotated by the handle 111, and the air flow of the muffler 10 wouldthen be adjusted depending on the angle of the baffle plate 120 turning.

However, the muffler 10 would heat up by the hot air exhaust from theengine (not shown) when working. The thermal deformation resulted frommaterial heat expansion or contraction of the muffler 10, would presenta rotation problem for the shaft 110. For a loosely fitted shaft 110 thebaffle plate 120 may rotate smoothly but rattle violently by the exhaustvibration and generate annoying noise, while a tightly fitted shaft 110the different thermal deformation between the multiple layers 11 couldcatch the shaft 110 completely from rotation. Therefore, thisconventional baffle plate operating mechanism 100 would cause seriousfitting dilemma.

Accordingly, in consideration of the above drawback in practical use ofthe conventional baffle plate operating mechanism 100, the presentinvention is to isolate the shaft 110 from thermal deformation betweenthe multiple layers 11 of the muffler 10 to overcome the shortcomings inthe related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to incorporate a solid sleevewith a plurality of bushings mated inside for the shaft; the sleevewould isolate the rotation of shaft from the thermal deformation betweenthe multiple layers 21.

In order to achieve the goals set forth, a baffle plate operatingmechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a solidsleeve inserted through and welded onto the muffler, a plurality ofbushings are mated inside the solid sleeve and have a slit in eachbushing respectively, a shaft inserted through the solid sleeve and thebushings, and a baffle plate is mounted on the shaft and disposed insidethe muffler.

Moreover, in the configuration of this invention, the baffle plate wouldrotate smoothly inside to regulate the air flow of the mufflerregardless of the thermal deformation. The shaft is the axis of therotation of the baffle plate and is inserted in the solid sleeve throughthe bushings, and is supported by the bushings mated in the solidsleeve. The bushings with slit pointing at different direction are tokeep the fitting within the solid sleeve welded in the multiple layersof the muffler. Whatever thermal deformation generates by the multiplelayers, it only compresses the solid sleeve and not the shaft itself.This invention provides a baffle plate operating mechanism with thebushings mated in the solid sleeve to regulate the rotation of thebaffle plate smoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the present invention will bemore readily understood from the following detail description when readin conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of a baffle plate operating mechanism ofthe related art;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a baffle plate operating mechanisminstalled in a muffler according to preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a baffle plate operating mechanism installed ina muffler according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a baffle plate operating mechanismaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a baffle plate operating mechanismaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid sleeve with three bushingsinside according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, to allow thoseskilled in the art to easily understand and reproduce the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 2-FIG. 6, a baffle plate operating mechanism 200 for amuffler 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a solid sleeve 210, a plurality of bushings 220, a shaft 230,and a baffle plate 240.

The muffler 20 connects to an outlet of an engine (not shown) whichinstalled on a motor vehicle, e.g. automobile or motorcycle, and themuffler 20 has multiple layers 21. The solid sleeve 210 passes throughand welded into the multiple layers 21 of the muffler 20. In thiscondition, the solid sleeve 210 passes through a hole (not labeled)which is drilled through the multiple layers 21, and welded onto themuffler 20.

The bushings 220 are formed in a sharp of C-ring; each has a slit 221respectively. The bushings 220 are mated inside the solid sleeve 210.The shaft 230 is inserted into the sleeve 210 and fitted by the bushings220. One end of the shaft 230 is extended inside the muffler 20 and theother end of the shaft 230 is extended outside the muffler 20. The shaft230 is refrained by the bushings 220. Alternatively, there are severalbushings 220 mated into the solid sleeve 210. Each of the bushings iswith slit 211 facing different direction to support the shaft 230.

The baffle plate 240 is mounted on the shaft 230 to regulate the airflow inside the muffler 20. The shaft 230 is the axis of rotation of thebaffle plate 240.

In a preferred embodiment, a projecting rim 211 with a notch 212 isformed on an end of the sleeve 210 outside the exhaust muffler 20 and apin 232 is configured to the shaft 230 and located in the notch 212 togovern the angle of the rotation of the shaft 230.

A handle 231 is bent at one end of the shaft 230 extending outside themuffler 20. The handle 231 can be connected to a control cable (notshown) for rider or driver to rotate the shaft 230 conveniently.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the thermal deformation ofthe muffler 20 generated from the engine heat inside the muffler 20 willbe isolate by the sleeve 210. The bearings 220 with the slit 221 facingdifferent directions can maintain the rotation of the shaft 230smoothly.

The baffle plate operating mechanism 200 is made in stainless steel, andthe special anti-rust character of stainless steel will further enhancethe smooth rotation of the shaft 230 to ensure the aforementionedmechanism can perform as expected.

Consequently, the baffle plate operating mechanism 200 according to thepresent invention has following advantages:

-   -   1. The present invention is still a compact structure that can        be installed conveniently on the automobile or motorcycle by        modifying enthusiastic.    -   2. Whatever the temperature raises or falls, the sleeve 210 will        isolate the thermal deformation between the multiple layers of        the muffler 20 so the shaft 230 can rotate smoothly to regulate        the air flow inside the muffler 20.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that the inventionis not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions andmodifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, andothers will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, allsuch substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A baffle plate operating mechanism for a muffler having multiplelayers which connects to an outlet of an engine installed on a motorvehicle, the baffle plate operating mechanism comprising: a solid sleevepassing through and welded onto the multiple layers of the muffler; aplurality of bushings mated inside the solid sleeve, and each of thebushings having a slit; a shaft inserted into the solid sleeve andrefrained by the bushings, one end of the shaft extended inside themuffler, the other end of the shaft extended outside the muffler; and abaffle plate mounted on the shaft and disposed inside the muffler;whereby the shaft is an axis of the rotation of the baffle plate and thebushings mated in the solid sleeve isolate the shaft from the thermaldeformation generated by the hot air exhaust from the engine, the baffleplate would rotate smoothly to regulate the air flow inside the muffler.2. The baffle plate operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe silts of the bushings point at different directions.
 3. The baffleplate operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aprojecting rim with a notch formed on an end of the sleeve outside theexhaust muffler, and a pin configured to the shaft and located in thenotch to govern the degrees of the rotation of the shaft.
 4. The baffleplate operating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other endof the shaft has a handle extended outside the muffler.